Bed spring



1929- c. H. GAIL ,7

BED SPRING Filed Feb. 26, 1925 Patented Aug. 27, 1929.

UNITED STATES I 1,726,061 PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. GAIL, OF LOS ANGELES, CAL IFORNIA," ASSIGNOR TO LOS ANGELESSPRING BED COMPANY,- OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

BED SPRING.

Application filed February 26, 1925. Serial N0. 11,734.

This invention relates to a spring such, for instance, as a bed springand it is a particular object of the invention to provide an improvedspring in which the parts are effectively braced and also held againstlateral movement.

Spring structures, such as are used in beds, and the like, usuallycomprise a heavy base frame and a light top frame supported on thebaseframe by a plurality of helical springs. The object of making thetop frame comparatively light and of supporting it in manner justdescribed, is to make it comfortable and to give it the desiredresiliency in a vertical direction. In obtaining these qualities withthe usual construction the top frame is more or less flexible and ismore or less freely movable a substantial amount laterally or in ahorizontal direction with reference to the base frame. The flexibilityof the top frame and the lateral or horizontal movement of the top frameis objectionable and various devices have been provided to overcome it.

This invention has particular reference to a construction or device forbracing or stiflening the top frameand overcoming the undesirablehorizontal or lateral shifting movement of the top frame with relationto the.

base frame.

A further object of the invention has been to provide means foryieldingly bracing the top frame of a spring against horizontalmovement.

A particular object of this invention \has been to provide a practicaleffective means other than the usual helical springs for bracing orsupporting the top frame. is

Another object of this invention has been to provide a brace of thecharacter mentioned which is extremely simple both in construction andoperation and which involves very few simple and inexpensive parts.

The objects and features of my invention will be best and more fullyunderstood from consideration of the following detailed' description ofa typical form and application of the invention throughout whichdescription reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which wFig. 1 is a plan view of a portion of a bed spring showing a braceembodying the present invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectlonal view taken as indicated by line 22 onFig. 1.

helical springs 'other, etc.

parts (not shown) and a plurality of intermediate parts 15. The side andend parts of the frame are usually comparatively heavy so that they forma rigid strong frame, the intermediate parts 15 being arranged in spacedrelation within the frame, to carry the springs 12. In accordance withthe usual practice theintermediate frame parts 15 extend transversely ofthe frame between the side parts 14 as I have illustrated inqthedrawings. The intermediate frame parts 15 are in the form of flat strapsor strips of material arranged vertically and spaced and related so thatthey extend directly under the springs 12 to efiectively support them.The springs 12 may be the usual form of helical springs employed instructures of this kind and may be connected to the various parts of thebase frame by means of tie wires 17. The upper ends of the springs 12are connected together by crossedhelical springs 20 and are cgnnectedwith the top frame 11 by tie wires 2 The top frame 11 is usually asubstantially rectangular frame somewhat lighter in construction thanthe base frame 10. The top frame is usually formed of heavy wire andcomprises side parts25 and end parts (not shown). The construction thusfar described may be considered a typical bed spring construction, itbeing understood, of course, that bed springs vary considerablyin theexact design and proportioning of the frames, the arrangement and mannerof connecting the to the frames and with each The present invention isconcerned primarily wlth lmproved means for hraclng or reinframesagainstrelative movement laterally, particularly for bracing the topframe against lateral or horizontal movement with forcing the top framell and, for bracing the reference to the base frame. When Iuse the yterm lateral movement I mean to include not only movement sidewise, butalso endwise, that is, the present invention may be employed to hold thetop frame against move ment sidewise or endwise, or both. The brac- 1ngmeans provided by my invention includes a brace member 30 connected withthe top frame 11 and with the base frame 10.- The brace member hasastraight horizontal 01' lower part 31 arranged between two spaced partsof the base frame, for instance, between two adjacent intermediate frameparts 15. The lower part'31 of the brace is comparatively long asillustrated in the drawings and is connected, preferably at its ends tothe frame parts 15 by tension springs 33. The

tension springs 33 are preferably helical springs disposed transverselyof the part 31 between the part 31 and the frame parts 15. In thepreferred form of construction the lower part 31 of the brace isconnected with the frame parts 15 only at its ends however,.it will beapparent that any desired number of connections may be made between thepart 31 and the frame part 15. In addition to the lower part 31 thebrace includes a part 35 1 part 25.

which extends upwardly from the part 31 to connect with the top frame11. The part 35 preferably extends diagonally upwardly from one end ofthe lower part 31 and is arranged so that its upper end connectsdirectly with the top frame 11, for instance, with one of the side parts25 of the top frame. In the particular form of the invention illustratedin the drawings, the brace 30 is formed of sheet metal bent into achannel shape, the

upper end of the diagonally disposed part 35 being 'flared out and bentaround the frame This manner of connecting the brace with the top frameis particularly simple, effective and is desirable as-it permits of somemovement between the frame and brace. When the brace is formed in themanner just described, it may be provided at suitable points withopenings to receive loops 40 pro.- vided on the ends of the springs 33.

-When it is desired to brace the side parts of the top frame or to bracethe top frame against side movement the spring maybe equipped with oneor more braces 30 arranged transversely of the spring and connected withthe side part or parts of the top frame 11. It is to be understood thatone or more braces maybe provided at a side of the spring and thatbraces may be provided at either or both sides of the spring ascircumstances may require. Further, if it is desired to brace an endpart of the frame or to brace the top frame against endwise movement oneor more braces 31 may be provided longitudinally of the spring and maybe connected with the end part or parts of the top frame.

In operation the brace provided by my invention operates to reinforce orstiffen the top frame to hold it in shape and to resist vertical"thereof.

movement of the edge portion of the top When the edged portion of thetop frame is moved vertically the springs 33 are flexed in .a'

vertical direction and when it is moved horizontally the springs 33 areflexed in a horizontal direction. When the frame is moved to fiex thesprings vertical-1y the horizontal part 31 of the brace swings or-pivotsso that the springs 33 at one end are flexed upwardly and those at theother end downwardly. Movement of the top frame horizontally causes thehorizontal part 31 of the brace to move in a substantially horizontaldirection which movement is directly resisted by all of the springs 33.By providing the brace with the proper number of springs 33 and withsprings 33 of the proper strength the top frame 11 will be braced in thedesired manner and will have the desired resistance to lateral movement.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the braceprovided by this invention is extremely simple in construction andoperation, and that it is particularly effective in operation. Further,it is to be noted that the brace is such that it can be applied topractically any usual form of bed spring and does not in any wayinterfere with the comfort of the spring.

Having described only a typical preferred form of my invention I do notwish to limit myself to the specific details hereinabove set forth, butwish to reserve to myself any changes or variations that may appear tothose skilled in the art or fall within the scope of the followingclaims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. bed spring including, a base frame, a top frame,sp-ring meanssupporting the top frame on the base frame, a brace connected to oneframe and extending diagonally to the other frame, the brace having aportion located substantially in the plane of the'said other frame, anda plurality of springs connecting the brace with the said other frame,the springs being connected to the said portion of the brace at pointsspaced longitudinally thereof.

2. A bed spring including a base frame, a top frame, spring meanssupporting the top frame on the base frame, a brace connected to oneframe and extending diagonally to the other frame, the brace having aportion located substantially in the plane of the said other frame, andsprings connecting the brace with said other frame, the springs beingarranged substantially in the plane of said other frame and disposedtransversely of the brace and being connected to said portion of thebrace at points spaced longitudinally 3.. A bed spring including a baseframe, a

top frame, spring means supportingthe't'op frame on thebase frame, abrace connected to 4. A bed spring including a base frame,

having spaced frame parts, a top frame, a. spring means supporting thetop frame on the base frame, a brace connected to the top frame andextending diagonally to a position between spaced parts of the baseframe, and

.having a portion extending therefrom in plane of the base frame, and aplurality of springs extending laterally in both directions from thesaid portion of the brace to said 5. A bed spring including a base framehaving spaced frame parts, a top frame, a spring means supporting thetop frame on the base frame, a. brace connected to the top frame andextending diagonally to a position between spaced parts of the baseframe, the brace having a part extending parallel to the said base frameparts, and two pairs of coil springs supporting the said part of thebrace between said parts of the base frame, the pairs of springs beingconnected to opposite end portions of said part of the brace.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my namethis 10th day of December, 1924.

CHARLES H. GAIL.

